Even though I knew what was going to happen I still raced through this as I enjoyed the plot and the build up to the climax. A new author which was great. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

⭐️BOOK REVIEW⭐️
✨WHERE YOU BELONG✨ by S.J. KING
Everything’s going to work out,’ he said, something tight in his voice. She wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince her, or himself.

Dedication
“Our New Life Together Playlist”
🥂 James has received a job offer he simply can’t refuse. Accepting this offer will allow his family to live in the most luxurious home and neighborhood one could imagine, with all life’s amenities right in arms reach.

Change
“Agreement accepted.”
🥂 As this opportunity comes once in a lifetime, is Julia ready to part ways with the company she is dedicated to? Are the boys ready to move out of their current home and life to move across the country to begin a new school and make new friends? Or is the question Julia should be asking, is this new life one of pure reward with good intentions from her husband’s hard work, or is it one of potential destruction, disaster, and secrets?

Stability
“All part of this wonderful little adventure.”
🥂 As Julia tries to settle in, she cannot lose the nagging sense that danger is at the forefront of their lives. Her children do not appear settled to the staff at school. Could it be linked to Julia’s own instability? Julia’s feelings and internal thoughts? Those that are being monitored very closely.

Acceptance
“Aren’t we lucky?”
🥂 Julia reflects on the happenings over the past few months. Everything and everyone she thought she knew, she never really knew at all. She realizes things cannot be undone. How does she move forward? Will there always be a worry about something or someone out there lurking?

I enjoyed this debut novel by S.J. King. The mysterious element crafted throughout the book continued to remind me that things were definitely not as they seemed. From the beginning the spinning of this web made me want to continue reading to find out what was exactly happening. Unreliable characters, beautiful setting, and disturbing occurrences are right up my alley. If they too are something you enjoy, give this book a go!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to review this book which is out now. All opinions are my own.

Where You Belong by S.J King is a fast-paced and suspenseful psychological thriller with a Stepford Wives vibe!

When Julia, her husband James, and their two sons moved to a secluded community called The Haven, Julia wants this move to be a new start for their family, and she wants James to have a chance to follow his dreams. But very quickly Julia realizes that The Haven is concealing some dark secrets. Only the husbands leave to go to work and the wives all stay home and are perfectly content. Each member of The Haven wears a bracelet that changes colors. And then Julia's neighbor dies and things really start to get creepy.

The plot of this book is absolutely wild! Dystopian vibes, Stepford Wives, mystery and suspense are all weaved together to create Where You Belong. I cannot believe that this is a debut novel! The only critique I had was that it started off a little bit slow but I understood that that was necessary for character building and suspense building. Definitely going to keep an eye out for more by S.J King!

Thank you to NetGalley, S.J King, and Storm Publishing for this ARC. Release day was March 4th 2025.

Where You Belong was a dark and suspenseful thriller that had big Stepford Wives vibes to it. The story started off a little slow but after a while it had me obsessively wondering what was coming next. The main character, Julia, drove me crazy. Her actions were not well thought out and she gave up much too easily in some scenarios. The way this book was written was a little choppy at times. It had me thinking I had skipped a page. The action picked up towards the end and I was really captivated. My rating would be higher if not for the way it ended. There were too many unanswered questions and it felt rushed right after getting to the climax.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting! I could not put it down and had to know what was going to happen. I thought the storyline and character development were great! I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you #Netgalley for the copy!

When Julia's husband gets a job offer, she is anxious about making a move but recognizes it is his turn for a new opportunity. She packs up the family and moves to the new community provided to them with the job offer. But upon arrival, Julia senses this may not be as perfect as it was described. I immediately felt that this should be a show or movie, I can imagine this picture perfect locked in community and the how the app and points system control their lives. We watch as Julia begins to question more and more and eventually decides she has to do something about it. This was a very quick and enjoyable read!

Thank you so much for the ARC. Loved the book! I loved Julia! How she trusted her instinct and continued to ask questions no matter the cost This thriller had an interesting take on control and manipulation. It reminded me of The Handmaid's Tale and Big Brother and how people can be tricked into a life of wealth and prosperity and perfection. The plot twist was brilliant! Really didn't expect Bob and James to be the real villians. Excellent psychological thriller!

Where You Belong is a binge-worthy, twist-filled thriller that completely hooked me. The too good to be true, too late to escape premise immediately drew me in, and I wasn’t prepared for how wild things would get.

The book blends thriller, dystopian, and sci-fi elements in a way that feels fresh and immersive. The tension builds perfectly, and once I hit the 50% mark, I couldn’t stop reading. The last half flew by in a blur of what is happening moments, and I loved every second of it.

This definitely won’t be my last S.J. King book. Highly recommend for fans of gripping, unputdownable thrillers!

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Where You Belong presents a thoughtful exploration of identity and belonging within a complex family dynamic. It navigates themes of generational trauma and the search for personal truth. King's prose is both evocative and precise, effectively conveying the emotional weight of the characters' experiences. The novel's strength lies in its nuanced portrayal of flawed individuals grappling with difficult choices, making it a compelling read for those interested in character-driven narratives. I highly recommend it to all.

Where You Belong is an engaging psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The tension builds slowly as the protagonist, a woman seeking peace in a seemingly perfect gated community, begins to unravel unsettling secrets. The writing is suspenseful, and the sense of dread is palpable as she digs into the strange disappearances and mysterious deaths surrounding her. While the pacing could have been a bit tighter, the twists and turns make for an enjoyable, chilling read. A solid four stars for its gripping atmosphere and intriguing plot

Where You Belong by S. J. King is a fast-paced and atmospheric thriller that keeps readers on edge from start to finish. The story follows Julia, a woman who moves to a seemingly perfect gated community with her husband, James, in the hopes of escaping a stressful past and starting anew. However, as the days go by, Julia begins to feel that something is wrong. The perfect facade of her new life begins to crack, and soon, dark secrets threaten to consume her.

When a neighbour’s body is discovered floating in a pool, the other residents dismiss it as a tragic accident. Yet whispers about the family who lived in Julia’s villa before her point to something more sinister. As she digs deeper into the mystery, Julia becomes increasingly trapped in a web of secrets, lies, and manipulation, unsure who to trust—even her husband.

This book is a brilliant exploration of tension, dread, and the feeling of being trapped in a world that is not what it seems. King masterfully builds a creepy and suspenseful atmosphere, leaving the reader hooked with each new twist and revelation. The dystopian undertones of a world where every aspect of life is controlled and monitored add an extra layer of unease.

Where You Belong is an impressive debut book that moves at a steady pace and keeps readers fully invested in the story. It’s a must-read for fans of thrillers with a sense of mystery and a chilling atmosphere.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

When Julia and James move to a new gated community to start a new life things seem odd from the start. Everything just seems a little too perfect as do some of the people. What then unfolds becomes Julia's worst nightmare!
I found this book an enjoyable and easy read, albeit quite far fetched at times. It reminded me of The Stepford Wives and I am sure that anyone who enjoys that genre will find this a thoroughly immersive read.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I thought this book was going to be really good but I could not get pass 60 percent. It was so boring and so far fetched.

Where You Belong is a dystopian thriller that I think had some good parts but that I ultimately found a little disappointing.

James, Julia and their two sons move to a new neighborhood that at first seems peaceful and idyllic, but quickly things get odd. Julia can’t leave the community, not even to take her kids to school. All residents are expected to use an app that tracks their every move. And no one seems to want to discuss prior residents.

The plot was engaging but ultimately predictable. It kept my interest for sure but the ending felt a bit anticlimactic. I would still recommend checking this out if you’re in the mood for a dystopian-type thriller, there just wasn’t anything that gave it that “wow” factor for me.

Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!

Wow I feel like I had my Sims on with autonomy turned off.
Julia followed her husband James to a new life. A haven away from the hectic real life. Only something is dreadfully wrong. This community is a man's world, they go to work and the women are like 50's housewives. People die or vanish, other women appear vague and brainwashed. Julia is a smart independent woman, will she fight this system?
I really enjoyed this dystopian kind of story, feeling the sense of being trapped with the women. The community seemed to be a cult, one with intelligent electronic controls.
Creepy but pretty cool, I loved it.

S.J. King delivers an enthralling and suspenseful tale in Where You Belong, a novel that masterfully blends intrigue, mystery, and psychological tension. The story follows Julia and her family as they settle into what appears to be the perfect community—until unsettling events begin to unfold, turning their idyllic new home into something far more sinister.

King’s storytelling is gripping, pulling readers in from the very first page and refusing to let go. The eerie atmosphere builds with precision, and the slow unraveling of secrets keeps the suspense at a peak. As the twists emerge, the need to uncover the truth becomes irresistible, making this a book that’s nearly impossible to put down.

With well-drawn characters, a compelling plot, and a pacing that never falters, Where You Belong is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and eerie domestic suspense. This is a novel that will keep you hooked until the final, satisfying reveal.

With its sharp writing, fast-paced narrative, and electrifying suspense, Where You Belong by S. J. King is a must-read for fans of suspense and psychological thrillers.
This book kept me up LATE because it took so many unexpected turns.
This was a tense, mail-bitingly thrilling read. Loved loved loved this one. Absolutely wonderful and unputdownable.

Rounded up to 4.5 stars!!!!
This definitely has Stepford Wives vibes!! (The Julie Christie version!). I read this in one sitting! It's a bit crazy, and just plain bingeable!

Julia, her husband James, and their two boys move to a picturesque, perfect and secluded gated community called "The Haven". Julia sees this as a fresh start for the family. However, upon arrival, Julia senses that all is not what it seems. The wives don't work, and they are all very positive and cheerful, perfectly dressed and seem to know everything about everyone. The people in the community constantly remind each other that everything is "perfect" here, and seem shocked that Julia wants to stay in contact with her friends/co-workers back in Boston. But James convinces Julia that it is his turn to pursue his dream, and Julia gives in. However, the claustrophobia really begins to set in. Each community member wears a bracelet which changes colors (although we don't find out until later what this means). They also give each other "gratitude" points- they are nudged to do this through the phones given to them- and the requests come after every interaction with another community member. Then someone dies, and all h--l breaks loose!

I loved how the author described a perfect small community set in paradise, yet managed to infuse an atmosphere of utter claustrophobia and creepiness in this setting. They are cut off from the rest of the world, and the men go to work each day- but no one seems to know what they do! The expectation for the women is to sit still and look pretty- do not question anything or have any ambition. With the death of her neighbor, and curiosity about what happened to the family that lived in their house- the twists and turns speed up and Julia is desperate to escape with her sons.

I was rooting for Julia, and did not know how things were going to turn out for she and her two sons. The pacing is fast, and you are never sure if James is trustworthy. There are also many times when I found myself questioning what the truth really was!

This is a fantastic debut!!! I am so looking forward to what the author writes next because the talent with this one was out of this world!!!!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and the author. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Unfortunately, I really didn’t like this. I DID read the entire novel though because the plot was so intriguing. Ugh— the had the perfect plot in my opinion. Mysterious, dystopian, Stepford Wives-esque. But.. it went awry. Quickly. It was anticlimactic and disappointing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this EARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

I found this a little confusing in parts but it is a good read. Set in a somewhat dystopian "community" where everything you need is there butt you have to "level up" to get the good stuff and if you are less than a perfect Stepford housewife that levelling up becomes something rather more sinister!
I struggled a little with how compliant the women were and how little awareness they seemed to have of what was being done to them but enjoyed the finale of the book, where things mostly came good!